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From a robust noise complaint program to aircraft modernization, the KMC continues to work in partnership with host nation officials on aircraft noise issues.
The Combined Noise Abatement Committee held its first meeting of the year April 30 on Ramstein. The committee is composed of local mayors, host nation authorities, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army leadership, the base airfield manager, German Air Force leadership and local environmentalists. The CNAC serves as a venue for mayors to bring up residents’ concerns and questions about base air traffic.
Col. Bill Bender, 86th Airlift Wing commander, opened the meeting by discussing the process involved in researching noise complaints.
“We take great care to thoroughly research complaints,” said Colonel Bender. “We review our traffic logs, radar data and interview aircrew members to determine if any procedural errors were made and if there are any trends which need to be corrected. We also review the general pattern of complaints received to see if an initiative can be implemented to further reduce aircraft noise.”
The 86th Airlift Wing Host Nation Office, which runs and tracks the noise complaint program, indicated that the majority of the complaints are from aircraft that are not assigned to Ramstein.
Colonel Bender explained that the wing works very closely with the Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., to ensure they understand quiet-hour procedures at Ramstein. Only mission-essential flights are granted quiet-hour waivers to land and take off from Ramstein, one example being the transportation of injured personnel to advanced critical medical treatment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
Ramstein quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, with the exemption of Sundays or holiday mornings when quiet hours extend until 1 p.m. Authority to waive quiet-hour restrictions resides with the 86th Operations Group commander, a U.S. Air Force colonel or higher authority as required.
Since many noise complaints involve transient aircraft not assigned to Ramstein, Colonel Bender discussed some additional measures the Air Force and the KMC have taken to reduce noise.
Over the long term, the C-5 Galaxy aircraft is being modernized with a quieter engine, said Colonel Bender. Also, an initiative is underway to further improve navigational aids for contract carriers that transit Ramstein in order to allow them to more effectively avoid flying over built-up areas.
Another initiative is the upcoming transition of the 86th AW from the C-130E to the C-130J, which promises to bring a quieter, but even more capable, Hercules to the KMC.
In the near term, one of the biggest initiatives the 86th AW has done to reduce noise locally is utilizing off-station trainers. Within the past year, the 37th Airlift Squadron has deployed to Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, the U.S. and other locations to conduct training in formation flights, air drop, air land, night vision goggles, tactical arrivals and combat on-load and off-load. Most of this training was conducted at night, alleviating the burden of noise on the local community. All of this training is required to keep aircrews proficient for when a C-130E is called upon to perform real-world missions in support of NATO and other partner nations, said Col. Jon Thomas, 86th OG commander.
Base and host nation officials will continue to collaborate together on noise abatement issues. The next CNAC will be held in the fall.
